C1 [ T ] formal uk/səˈveɪ/us/ˈsɝː.veɪ/to look at or examine all of something, especially carefully:
He got out of the car to survey the damage.
She has written a book which surveys (= describes in detail) the history of feminism.
[ T ] uk/səˈveɪ/us/ˈsɝː.veɪ/to measure an area of land, and to record the details of it, especially on a map:
Before the new railway was built, its route was carefully surveyed.
[ T often passive ] UK US and Australian English inspect uk/səˈveɪ/us/ˈsɝː.veɪ/If a building is surveyed, it is examined carefully by a specially trained person, in order to discover if there is anything wrong with its structure.